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L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain of Oz

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L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain of Oz

Evening Program with Reception

Evening Lecture/Seminar

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. ET
Code: 1H0426
Location:
S. Dillon Ripley Center
1100 Jefferson Dr SW
Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Select your Registration
$45
Member
$60
Non-Member

“Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.”

L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and dozens of other books, brought a unique voice to children’s literature, seizing on classic folk tales and giving them a decidedly American spin. Though the author has been gone for 100 years now, his works remain as well-loved and influential as they ever were, and the 1939 film based on his fantastical world remains a cultural landmark.

Baum’s goal, he often said, was simply to “please children,” but to this day a legion of fans continue to find playful hidden meanings scattered along the yellow brick road. Baum himself might well have offered an amused reply: “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”

So click your heels three times and transport yourself to a celebration of the wonderful world of Baum. Author Daniel Stashower explores Baum’s life and legacy, and actor Scott Sedar reads a selection of Baum’s most beloved works.

A reception follows the program.